SD-WAN: Connectivity for Digital Transformation
Studies indicate that the global market for Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN) will experience significant growth. This market is projected to increase by $13.66 billion between 2024 and 2028, according to a report by Technavio. The expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is 29.02%.
Once again, we are witnessing a technology that is expanding at a dizzying pace. Therefore, let’s explore the reasons. Generally, it can be stated that SD-WAN networks incorporate intelligence in an automated manner and make constant decisions to achieve optimized, flexible, and adjusted connectivity. They allow real-time awareness of what is happening on the network and determine the best path for data flow at any given moment, prioritizing traffic.
A more detailed analysis of the characteristics of software-defined networks describes a scenario of multiple benefits. These benefits are highly valuable for IT managers and, consequently, translate into the operation of the business itself.
Better Application Experience with SD-WAN
- High availability, with predictable service, for all critical business applications.
- Multiple active-active hybrid links for all network scenarios.
- Application traffic dynamically routed with application-aware routing for efficient delivery and a better user experience.
Enhanced Security with SD-WAN
- Application-aware policies with comprehensive segmentation and real-time access control.
- Integrated threat protection applied at the right place.
- Protection of broadband internet and cloud traffic.
Optimized Cloud Connectivity
- Seamless extension of the WAN to multiple public clouds.
- Real-time optimized performance for Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, and other major SaaS applications.
- Optimized workflows for cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.
Simplified Management
- A single, centralized, and cloud-distributed management panel to configure and manage the WAN, cloud, and security.
- Automated provisioning with templates for all locations: branches, campuses, and cloud.
- Detailed performance reports of applications and the WAN for business analysis and bandwidth forecasting.
Financial Benefits of SD-WAN
- Allows replacing CAPEX with OPEX as it can be offered in a comprehensive managed service model.
- Improves OPEX by replacing costly switching services with more economical and flexible connectivity solutions.
- Optimizes TCO.
A good list of reasons why organizations choose SD-WAN networks to manage a highly stressed IT environment and multiple challenges to meet current bandwidth, security, and network optimization needs.
SD-WAN + Ikusi Intelligence: Enterprise Networks Scale in Intelligence
In addition to all the advantages described so far in this article, adopting SD-WAN allows monitoring networks, extracting data on their behavior, and analyzing it for subsequent optimization.
However, not all companies have the experience and training necessary to carry out this process. Therefore, Ikusi, as a managed services provider, has proven experience and adds the Ikusi Intelligence for SD-WAN platform, whose central objective is to solve visibility and management problems of next-generation enterprise networks.
This platform has been created to add a layer of analytics and business intelligence to a traditional SD-WAN solution, so organizations have executive control over the network resources and services they consume to make immediate cost-benefit decisions, thanks to real-time visibility of business impact.
With its ability to deploy SD-WAN networks, combined with the development of the Ikusi Intelligence platform, Ikusi has taken enterprise networks to the next level of intelligence. It has responded, on the one hand, to the new priorities of organizations seeking secure and optimized access for their employees and remote connectivity options integrated with continuous security.
On the other hand, with Ikusi Intelligence, it has provided companies with the ability to centrally control security policies, quality of service, applications, users, and SD-WAN devices, allowing the client to have control and the ability to guarantee end-to-end service quality.